‘Outright Evil’: Anguish and Anger as Citizens Reportedly Deceived into Battling for Russian Forces

A mother has had no contact with her son since late August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being sent to the battle lines of the war between the Russian Federation and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with worry.

“My health is truly suffering,” she stated, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.”

The young man was among a contingent of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is linked to a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about the individual's involvement began to surface last month following the national authorities announced it was trying to help citizens trapped in the war zone. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, another of Zuma’s daughters, lodged a formal complaint claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men.

This claim sent shock waves through South Africa, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Statistics show a substantial percentage of young adults are unemployed and not studying.

The men are thought to remain trapped in a conflict they did not sign up for, while their families thousands of miles away fear for their lives.

The Initial Contact

Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with the accused via a family connection when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in June with what was described as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country.

A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be trained as security personnel for a faction associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a personal development programme, upon completion they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality.

Early hesitation eventually gave way to agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’”

Political Connections

The accused, has long been a fierce defender of her father, who holds considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been a leading figure in pushing for closer relationships with nations often at odds with Western powers.

She has also publicly expressed her backing for Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.

In another matter, she is facing legal proceedings on accusations of serious offenses related to online posts during past unrest. She denies those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The men allegedly gathered at a major international airport in the summer before flying to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups dated July and August apparently indicate the group's concerns.

In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were being split up. A communication explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the son contacted his parent to say he was being forced to agree to terms in a language he did not understand. An agreement linked to another member of the group seems to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been active in the hostilities since its outset.

Official Actions and Family Despair

In early November, the office of the South African president said it had received distress calls the men and was working to bring them home. The government emphasized that assisting external armed forces without official permission is against the law.

A deep rivalry between the two political figures adds a layer of complexity to the case. Initially, the group included twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back.

A subsequent conversation between the accused and families of the men allegedly provided no answers. Soon thereafter, the police report was lodged by another relative, claiming her sibling and others of enticing the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla filed her own affidavit claiming she had been deceived by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate training course. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her political position.

Other individuals could not be reached for comment. An official representative said there was “no update” on the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to inquiries.

Broader Implications

Authorities have indicated that hundreds of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to warn their citizens about these activities.

Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals including a media personality recently appeared in court on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”